Wilmot James: Rich countries must seize the moment and donate 20% of their vaccines to Africa

By
Wilmot James, VacSafe WG Convenor, ISERP Senior Research Scholar, Chair, Center for Pandemic Research
Abigail Pyne, Research Assistant
June 14, 2021
Sharing vaccine doses with Africa is not just a moral imperative, it is an act that will protect the G7’s own citizens, economies and health systems.

In this piece for South Africa’s Daily Maverick, Dr. Wilmot James and Abigail Pyne discuss the importance of sharing COVID-19 vaccine doses with Africa and implore G7 leaders to take action. At just 2.16% vaccinated, and with no capacity to domestically produce COVID-19 vaccines, Africa desperately needs wealthy countries to share doses. Without swift action, unnecessary deaths will occur. In addition, there will be increased odds of a pathogenic variant emerging. Unicef proposed that G7 members donate 20% of their available vaccines, which would allow one billion doses to be quickly administered to nations in need, saving thousands of African lives. G7 leaders must heed this recommendation, as sharing vaccines is not simply a moral imperative; it is an act that will protect the G7’s own citizens, economies, and health systems.

Read the full Op-Ed here.